Hello everyone,

I am writing on behalf of VFW Post 3513 to thank you for participating in the VFW Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy. These VFW youth scholarship programs have been sponsored by VFW since 1947 and will continue for many years to come.

So far, we have had the opportunity to judge 3 out of the 4 levels of competition. The winners of the third level judging will be announced at the VFW Department Winter Conference on January 6th, 2024.

This year has been extremely difficult to judge, with so many amazing entries. Everyone had unique ways to highlight the themes for both Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy. You should all be proud of yourselves, as we are proud of you.

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Presented Below are the winners for both the Post 3513 and District 4 Judging.

 

PATRIOT’S PEN WINNERS POST 3513

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First Place Post 3513 / District 4 / 3rd Place State of Arizona Patriot Pen Winner Faith Wright is in 6th grade and attends Paradise Honors Middle School.

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Second Place Post 3513 PP Winner Adrian A Torres Hernandez is in 7th grade and attends St Mary Basha.

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Third Place Post 3513 PP Winner Tabitha Wilson is in 8th grade and attends St Mary Basha.

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNERS POST 3513

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First Place Post 3513 / District 4 / State of Arizona / National VOD Winner Sophia Lin is in 11th grade and attends Basis Scottsdale. Miss Sophia Lin receives the Top Prize in the VFW Voice of Democracy and a $35,000 Scholarship.

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Shout Out Arizona / meet-Sophia-Lin 

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Second Place Post 3513 VOD Winner Kimberly Lopez Carranza is in 12th grade and attends Coronado High School.

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Third Place Post 3513 VOD Winner Ariel Douglas is in 12th grade and attends Coronado High School.

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNERS DISTRICT 4

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First Place District 4 VOD Winner Sophia Lin was sponsored by VFW Post 3513 and attends BASIS Scottsdale.

 

Second Place District 4 VOD Winner Alexander Coppo was sponsored by VFW Post 7507 and attends Notre Dame Preparatory H.S.

 

Third Place District 4 VOD Winner Michael Tsai was sponsored by VFW Post 720 and attends Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix.

 

PATRIOT'S PEN WINNERS DISTRICT 4

 

First Place District 4 PP Winner Faith Liberty Wright was sponsored by VFW Post 3513 and attends Paradise Honors Middle School.

 

Second Place District 4 PP Winner Brooke Ann Mares was sponsored by VFW Post 1796 and attends Canon Elementary School in Black Canyon City.

 

Third Place District 4 PP Winner Scarlett E Olivares was sponsored by VFW Post 12210 and attends St Mary-Basha Catholic School in Chandler.

 

Smart/Maher Citizenship Education Teacher Award

 

Smart/Maher Citizenship Education Teacher Award Charity Taylor-Antal was nominated by Sophia Lin and sponsored by Post 3513. She is a teacher at BASIS Scottsdale where she teaches many courses to include the 11th grade AP Literature and Composition class that has inspired her nomination. Charity Taylor-Antal has secured First Place Awards at VFW Post 3513 / District 4 and will be included in our Department Level Judging that will be completed on February 1st, 2024.